Wiring device terminal connecting means



April 5, 1955 G B. BENANDER 2,705,785

WIRING DEVICE TERMINAL CONNECTING MEANS I Filed NOVv 18, 1952 5Sheets-Sheet l Inventor'.

His Attorn April 5, 1955 G. B. BENANDER WIRING DEVICE TERMINALCONNECTING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18, 1952 f y f e n ,n f onEm te t E. A @B me -E H I@ o e G April 5, 1955 2,705,785

G. B. BENANDER WIRING DEVICE TERMINAL CONNECTING MEANS Filed Nov. 18,1.952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l //7 5 ITVeTtOVI i: George B. @manden l l y L 1His Att United States Patent O WIRING DEVICE TERMINAL CONNECTING MEANSGeorge B. Behandel', @ak Lawn, R. I., assignor to General EiectricCompany, a corporation of New York Application November 13, 1952, SerimNo. 321,149

14 Claims. (Cl. 339-164) The present invention relates to wiring devicessuch as plug receptacles, switches, lamp sockets, and the like, andparticularly to the connectors which form a part of such devices forconnecting the electric wires thereto.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved connectorstructure for such wiring devices in which the conducting wires areelectrically connected to the wiring device and thereby automaticallylocked in place, by simply inserting the bared end of the wire throughan opening in the housing of the device, and improved wiring structuresembodying such connector structure.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention,attention is directed to the following specication and to the claimsappended hereto.

According to the invention, a wall of a cavity in a wiring devicehousing is provided with a conductor wire receiving opening, an edge ofwhich is iiush with an adjacent terminal bar or an adjacent wallsurface, and extending across such wall in line with the opening is alocking tongue, one end of which is held against the cavity wallopposite the adjacent terminal bar or wall surface, the other endprojecting over an edge of the opening, whereby a bared conductor wireend pushed through the opening into the cavity will be clamped betweenthe adjacent terminal bar or the adjacent wall surface and the end ofthe locking tongue and the locking tongue will be wedged between opposedwalls of the cavity. This speciic arrangement of locking tongueis 'afeature of the invention for by such arrangement I am enabled to provideat low cost a thoroughly reliable conductor wire connecting means as ispointed out hereinafter.

In the drawing,

Fig. l is an exploded View of a duplex plug receptacle embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the receptacle, a portion of its coverbeing broken away to show the parts beneath it. Fig. 3 is a sectionalview taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a part of a duplex receptacle showing amodification of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view with parts broken away of an electric switchembodying the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an element of the improved connector asembodied in an electric switch.

Fig. 8 is a side View, partly in section, of a ceiling tixture for anelectric lamp embodying the invention.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the fixture base with the contacts, terminalbars, and locking tongues assembled therein.

Fig. l0 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 10e-10, Fig. 9.

Fig. 1l is a perspective view of the xture cover member.

Fig. 12 is a detail View of a modification.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, 12 indicates the base of a duplex plugreceptacle and 13 the cover which is attached to the base by screws 14,one at each end of the receptacle, which extend up through openings 15in the base and thread into openings 16 in the cover. Base 12 and cover13 are made of suitable insulating material and together form a housingor casing for the several metal contact and connector parts of thereceptacle. Base 12 is provided adjacent to its ends with transverselyextending partition walls 17 and 18 which in conjunction with acentrally located longitudinally extending partition wall 19 define fourcontact cavities 20, one at each corner of the base. Partition wall 19is of a height less than partition walls 17 and 18, its height beingbest indicated may be connected to each terminal bar.

ICC

in Fig. 3A In each cavity is a contact structure 21 comprising spacedspring fingers adapted to make contact with the Contact blades of anattachment plug cap of usual construction, cover 13 being provided withslots 22 through which Contact blades of a plug cap may be inserted. Thepair of contact structures on each side of the base are connectedtogether by a terminal bar 23, the contact lingers in the presentinstance being formed integral with the terminal bar as is well shown inFig. 1. Terminal bars 23 stand edgewise in the base. 4They extendthrough slots 24 in transverse partition walls 17 and 18 and are held inplace between the bottom wall of base 12 and cover 13. Terminal bars 23are the parts to which the current-carrying conductors or wires are tobe connected. Extending longitudinally of base 12 is a mounting strap 25which at its center rests on a tubular post 26 projecting upward frompartition wall 19 and at its ends rests in notches 27 and 28 inpartition walls 17 and 13 and notches 29 in the end walls of the base.Strap 25 is clamped between base 12 and cover 13 and is held also by thescrews 14 which pass through openings 30 in the strap. The underside ofcover 13 is provided with pairs of projecting anges 31 which straddlestrap 25, the two end pairs being positioned between adjacent cavities2G. At its center, in line with post 26, strap 25 has a threaded opening32 and cover 13 has an opening 33 for receiving a face plate screw (notshown) for fastening a face plate in place. At its ends strap 25 isprovided with ears 34 having openings for screws for fastening thereceptacie in an outlet box, and wide ears 3S which may rest against aplaster surface for leveling the receptacle with respect to a plasterwall.

The structure so far described is a known one and is to be taken astypical of any suitable plug receptacle, whether of the type wherein thecontacts and terminal bars are inserted from the front as shown and heldbetween the base and a front cover, or of the type wherein the contactsand terminal bars are inserted from the rear and are held in place by aback cover plate.

My invention has to do with the construction and arasngement forfastening conductor wires to terminal bars According to the embodimentof my invention shown speciically in Figs. i to 3, partition walls 17,18 and 19 are shaped and spaced with respect to side walls 38 and 39 ofthe base to provide terminal cavities 40 and 41, one on each side of thebase, the ends of such cavities being deiined by transverse partitionwalls 17 and 18 and the sides by longitudinal partition wall 19 and theopposed side walls 38 and 39 of the base. Terminal bars 23 extend alongthe inner surfaces of side walls 3S and 39 and are dimensioned to liermly against such inner surfaces which form rigid backings for them. -inthe bottom wall of the base on each side of the base are one or moreconductor wire receivinU openings 42 which communicate with cavities 46and 41. The outer edges of openings 42 are substantially in line withthe inner surfaces of terminal bars 23. In the present instance twoopenings into each cavity are shown, whereby two wires A plurality ofwire openings is provided so that a lead wire and one or more branchwires may be connected to each terminal bar, whereby the receptacleserves also as a junction block in a well understood manner.

In the terminal cavities in connection with each opening 421s a 'springlocking tongue 43 which extends transversely across the cavity in linewith the opening 42 with which it is associated. At its inner end, it isseated on the bottom wall and it bears against the partition 19. itsouter end isfree and projects to a position where it extends somewhatover the inner edge of opening 42 as well shown at the right-hand sideof Fig. 3. rlhe two spring tongues 43 in each cavity are carried by andformed integral with an anchoring strip 44 which extends longitudinallyacross the cavity and has its ends held in slots 45 in partition walls17 and 18. Slots 45 are located in walls 17 and 18 centrally betweenpartition wall 19 and the base side walls so that the anchoring stripsare located centrally in the terminal cavities. The anchoring strips 44are connected to the spring locking tongues by offset arms 46, theconnection between each tongue and its related oiset arm being formed ata reentrant angle Y such as rounded elbow 47 which is positioned in theterminal cavity corners between bottom and side walls of the cavities.This arrangement provides substantial support forthe inner ends of thetongues against both lthe bottom ,wall and the sidewall. T he elbowsserve also to jadd to the resiliency of the spring tongues. Slots 45 areof a depth such that the upper Vedges of anchoring .strips `44 aresubstantially flush with the top surface of base i2 sothat cover 13serves to hold the anchoring strips in the slots. With this arrangementthe anchoring strips are held firmly in slots and serve in turn to holdthe spring .locking tongues tirmly in place against the inner walls orthe terminal cavities. The locking tongues are held from vsidewise ortwisting movement and are guided by` being positioned between vbosses onthe adjacent surfaces ofvpartition walls 17 and 15 'and the side edgesof posts which project upwardly from the bottom wall of base it?. asbest shown inFig. 2.

, Toconnect a lead wire or conductor to a terminal bar, i

grooves Sti in which the wires rest; also cover 13 may be .s

.provided with recesses 51 in which the ends of the wires Varepositioned when a wire is inserted through an opening 42 until .itcontactsthe underside of the cover.

The free ends .of the spring locking tongues project over openings42-toa point such that they are spaced from theadjacent surfaces of theterminal bars a distance somewhat less than the diameter of the smallestwire with 'which Ythe receptacle is to be used, (for example, #14American Wire Gage wire) Vso that when the wire is inserted through theopening, -it will raise the tongue from a position as vshown attheright-hand side of Fig. 3 to a position as shown at the vleft-handside of Fig. AEi wherein `the wire is .positioned between the contactbar and the end of the vlocking tongue and the tongue extends at adownwardlv sloping angle from the wire. When thus positioned, a pull onythe wire serves to wedge it more iirmly between the terminal bar andthe end of the locking tongue, bringing it into tight engaging contactwith the terminal bar and holding it firmly against removal. Openings 42Vare of a size to permit of insertion of the largest diameter wire is.

with which the receptacle is to be used (for example #10 .American WireGage wire) and the arrangement is such that the spring locking tonguewillengage such size wire andlock it rmly to the terminal bar. Tongues43 attheir free ends are bent upwardly somewhat as shown at 52 to :1.

v,provide angularly extending tips which serve, as guidesto guide a wireend .to a position between the tongue and the terminal bar Vand the endsof such tips may be wedgeshaped or serrate whereby they will tend tobite into the wire when the wire is subjected to a pull.

Surrounding each opening 42 is a'sle'eve 53 having an inside diameterlarger than the overallk diameter of the largest wire with which thereceptacle is to be used, whereby'a portion of the insulated wire at thebase of the bared end will be housed by the sleeve as shown in'Fig. 3 topref,

vent any exposure of bare wire.

To permit of removal of a wire after it has Vbeen connected to thereceptacle, there is provided in the bottom wall ofthe housing beneatheach. locking 'tongue an opening 54 through which the end of a suitabletool, such as -r a screwdriver, may be passed to engage the underside of.the tongue andfby an inward push move it away from locking engagementwith the wire end. Preferably the tongues are provided with transversebeads 55 adjacent tips 52 which, whena tool is inserted through anopening 54-to release therwire, will be engaged by theY end of the toolto hold it from accidentally sliding across the bottom of the tongue andbecomingl wedged between the end ofthe tongue and the terminal bar.

Y To connect 'conductor wires to thereceptacle, the inrsulation 1sfirst'removed from the ends of the wires to expose suitable lengths ofbare conductor. The correct amount of insulation to be removed can bereadily judged .from the depth of the receptacle; or the. amount to beremoved can be measured by placing the wire against the ksuitable type.Vshown as are needed for an understanding of the invenside of .thereceptacle; or, if one is provided, by using the strip gauge marked onthe receptacle. The depth of the sleeve 53 is such that the measurementis not critical. Then, after the insulation has been removed, all thatis necessary is to push the bared ends of the wires through the openings42. This is a very simple operation which can he quickly performedwithout tools other than a 'tool for stripping the wire ends, ,and is asubstantial timesaver over the usual screw connection, a thing ofimportance in view oi the high cost of labor. At the same time itprovides a wholly satisfactory terminal connection.

In Fig. e. is shown a duplex plug receptacle embodying' a modication ofmy invention wherein the spring locking tongues 60, corresponding to thespring locking tongues 43 of Figs. l to 3, are formed as integral,current carrying parts of the terminal bars 61, which correspond to theterminal bars 23 of Figs. 1 to 3. In this lrnodiic'ation the elbows 62,which are similar to elbows 47 of Figs. ,l to 3, are anchored againstthe inner surfaces of the Aside walls 63 ofthe receptacle and the freeends of the tongues terminatel at openings 64 inthe vbottom wall 4ot thereceptacle, which openings are in Vline with the surfaces of longitudinal partition wall v65 corresponding to the `:partition wall 19 AotFigs. l to 3, the partition w'all oeing provided with V-grooves 66 toyreceive ithe `wire ends. A wire end is indicated atf67. Inthisarrangement vthe electrical connections `betweenfthe terminal harsrandthe wire ends v67 are throughthe springlociring tongues. The contactfingers, which are integral vwith the terminal bars, are indicated at68. Y Except as noted above, the yFig. 4 construction may be similar tothat of Figs. `1 to 3 and wires maybe connected to it and "disconnectedfrom it in the same manner.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 showY the invention embodied in a tumbler type electricswitch. It maybe a switch of any Only sufficient parts of the switch aretion. In these iigures, 7i) indicates the base of the switch, 71 thecover, and 72 the actuating lever which is pivoted on the base ontrunnion 73. When moved on its-pivot, lever i2 actuates a switch blade(not shown) which spans or connects together switch contacts 74. This isa known type of switch structure and is to be taken as typical of suchstructures.

`ln base V are partition walls 75 and 76 which with side and endwalls ofthe base define vcontact cavities 77 in which contacts 74 are locatedand terminal cavities 7S. Formed integral with contacts 74 are terminalbars 79 which extend `into terminalV cavities 78 .and Lhave rounded orV-shaped ends 80. Bars 79 `stand edge'wise -in the base` andextend alongand are in firm engagement with the iouter wals'of cavities l78whi`chwails provide asolidfbacking'for them. In the bottom wall of 'base 70are openings 81, the outer Iedges Vof which ,are in alignment with theinner surfaces or V-shaped en'ds Si). Positioned in and extendingtransversely across cavities 7S are spring locking ,tongues v82similartothelocking tongues 43- of Figs. l to 3, and similarly arranged withrespect to openings 81. At their'innerfends they engage and are anchoredagainst the surfaces otfpartition -wall T6. At their vouter ends 'they`standpartly overopeings 8l and arefpreferably provided with angularlyturned ends to provide the tips :83. .Locking tongues 82 are carried ,byand formed integral with anchoring `strips 4, the ends of which are heldin slots g5 in partition wall and the opposed switch basefend wall,Slots S5 are located centrally of the walls of the cavities. The.anchoringstriplsiare connectedto the locking tongues by offset arms S6,the connection between the two being in the formof a rounded Velbowy37similar to the. elbow 47 of Pigs. l to 3. In the `assembled structure,cover 71 holdsithe anchoring strips 84 -in slots 85 and the anchoringstrips in turn holdthe elbows 87 firmly anchored against partition walll76t At S3 are openings'through which a tool may be inserted to lift alocking tongue from engagement with la wire vend to permit of a wire,heing disconnected from the switch. At the right-hand `side of'Fig. 6,89 indlcates a wire having a baredend 9i? positioned Ato beiinserted upthrough an opening 81;

yand vat the left-hands'ide-the wire is shown as having Rcferring now toFigs. 8 to :10 inclusive, which sho'w my invention embodied in a ceilingfixture for holding a screw base electric lamp, indicates the basemember of the fixture casing and 96 the cover member. Base member 95 hasan annular side wall 97 which defines a recess at the central portion ofthe base having a bottom wall 98. Projecting inwardly into the recessfrom opposed points on wall 97 are walls 99, the inner surfaces of whichform seats against which terminal contacts 100 and 101 are positioned,the inner ends of the contacts being held against the seats by bosses102 on bottom wall 98. Integral with the inner ends of contacts 100 and101 are terminal bars 103 and 104 which extend around walls 99 toopposite sides thereof and have shaped ends 105 and 106 which providegrooves to receive the bared ends of conductor wires. Walls 99 form arigid backing for ends 105 and 106. Also in the base recess projectingfrom bottom wall 98 are four sets of walls, each set comprising an outerwall 107, an inner wall 108 and an end wall 109 which deine terminal barcavities 110, a cavity for each terminal bar end 105 and 106; andpositioned in each cavity 110 is a locking tongue 111, similar to thelocking tongues already described, which extends across the cavity andis carried by an anchoring strip 112 positioned in grooves 113 inopposite walls 107 and 108. Anchoring strip 112 is connected to thelocking tongue by an offset arm 114, the connection between arm 113 andthe locking tongue being in the form of a rounded elbow 115 which restsagainst end wall 109 which wall forms a rigid backing for it. The freeend of each locking tongue terminates in spaced relation to the adjacentterminal bar and beneath such ends are the conductor wire receivingopenings 116 and the conductor wire releasing openings 117 arrangedafter the manner of those already described in connection with the otherstructures.

Cover 96 comprises a wall 118 which rests on the top surfaces of walls107, 108 and 109 and is held by a screw 119 which threads into a post120 on wall 118. The cover thus serves to hold in place the lockingtongues and anchoring strips. Carried by wall 118 is a sleeve 121 havingthreads formed on its inner surface for re ceiving the threaded base ofan electric lamp. Contacts 101 and 100 project through opening 122 atthe edge of wall 118 into sleeve 121. The end of contact 100 within thesleeve is bent across wall 118 to form the center contact. The end ofcontact 101 extends along the inner surface of the sleeve to form theother contact, this being a known contact arrangement. To insure thecorrect positioning of the cover on the base and to hold it from turningthereon, sleeve. 121 is provided with a key 123 on its outer surfacewhich lits into a keyway 124 inside wall 97.

In Figs. 9 and l0, conductor wires connected to the iixture areindicated at 125 and a tool for releasing a conductor wire from thelocking tongue is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l0 at 126.

The manner of connecting conductor wires to and disconnecting them fromthe fixture of Figs. 8 to 1l will be clear from explanations alreadygiven in connection with the other embodiments of the invention.

It will be noted that in Figs. 8 to ll, provisions are shown forconnecting two wires to each contact 100 and 101 so that a lead wire anda branch wire may be connected to each; and that each locking tongue hasits own anchoring strip. However, if desired, a common anchoring stripmay be used for the locking tongues associated with each contact. Suchan arrangement is shown in Fig. 12 where the two locking tongues 127 arecarried by a single anchoring strip 12S.

The invention has the advantage that while it is simple in structurewhich enables it to be embodied in wiring devices at low cost, a cost atleast as low as that of the usual screw terminal, it neverthelessprovides an entirely satisfactory terminal connection. In the case ofthe embodiments other than that of Fig. 4, only a single additional partis required and it may be a simple metal stamping, while in the case ofthe Fig. 4 modication, the only additional part is the locking tongueformed as a part ot the terminal bar. lt is to be noted that no pivotpins, screws or tapped holes are required and no additional fasteningparts are necessarily required since the locking means may be held inassembled position by means already present for holding the wiringdevice assembled, the locking means being held by the usual cover. Alsothen invention has the advantage that it 6 can be assembled easily andwithout the usev ot'l special tools since all that is needed is simplyto drop the metal stampings into the molded base, a very simple and lowcost operation.

ln connection with the construction it is to be noted that all metal orlive parts are entirely enclosed in the housing, no such parts beingexposed where they may be accidentally contacted or accidentally broughtinto contact with an enclosing metal outlet box or the like; and thiscondition obtains after the device is wired since no bare conductor wireis exposed. This is an advantageous feature from both a safetystandpoint and from a use standpoint for often considerable crowding ofthe wires is required in an outlet box.

However, advantages of the invention lie not only in its manufacture butalso in its use since, as pointed out above, a wire may be connected toa Wiring device embodying the invention by merely pushing it into thedevice, and it may be disconnected by merely pushing the locking tonguefrom contact with the wire.

While the invention has been illustrated as being embodied in wiringdevices in a manner such that the conductor wires are inserted throughthe back or bottom wall of the housing, it may be readily arranged in amanner such that the conductor wires are inserted through other walls ofthe housing.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. In a wiring device having a hollow housing for enclosing at least onecontact member therein, and means for mechanically and electricallyconnecting a wire to said contact comprising a conductor wire-receivingopening in one wall of the housing having an edge substantially inalignment with an adjacent inner wall surface, a resilient lockingtongue having its free end overlying said opening, while the oppositeend is formed ata reentrant angle with a movable offset arm that has atermination supported within the housing with the reentrant end of thelocking tongue in juxtaposition to a partition arranged substantiallyparailcl with said inner wall surface, whereby a conductor wire may beinserted through said opening to compress the locking tongue anditsrelated offset arm until becoming clamped by a strong wedging actionafforded by the locking tongue when the reentrant end of the tongue isbraced against the said partition.

2. in a wiring device, a housing comprising a base member and a covermember, a contact supported in the housing, and means for mechanicallyand electrically connecting a wire to said Contact comprising aconductor wire-receiving opening in one wall of the housing having anedge substantially in alignment with an adjacent inner wall surface, aresilient locking tongue arranged generally parallel with the walicontaining the wire-receiving opening and having one end formed at areentrant angle with a movable oiset arm that terminates in an anchoringportion that is held in place by said cover member thereby holding thereentrant end of the locking tongue seated on the wall containing thewire-receiving opening and bearing against a partition arrangedsubstantially parallel with said inner wall surface whereby a conductorwire may be inserted through said opening to compress the locking tongueand its related oiiset arm until becoming clamped by a strong wedgingaction afforded by the locking tongue.

3. In a wiring device as recited in claim 2 wherein there is an accessopening in the wall containing the wirereceiving opening and adjacentthereto, while the underside of the locking tongue near the free endthereof is adapted for engagement by a tool that is inserted through theaccess opening and against the tongue, the said tool serving to withdrawthe locking tongue from clamping engagement with the conductor wire.

4. In a wiring device, a housing comprising a base member and a covermember, a contact supported in the housing, a dat terminal bar connectedto said contact and extending flatwise against one side wall of thehousing whereby the wall forms a rigid backing for such bar, an adjacentwall of said housing having a wire-receiving opening an edge of which isin line with said bar, a resilient locking tongue located within thehousing and having a free end which extends over the edge of saidopening removed from said terminal bar, the opposite end of said lockingtongue being formed at a reentrant angle with a movable offset armhaving a termination which is held fixed within the housing with thereentrant kend of the locking tongue in juxtaposition to a partitionextending from said last-mentioned wall, whereby a conductor Wire may beinserted through said openlng to compress the locking tongue and itsrelated odset arm until becom-ing wedged betr/een the terminal bar andthe end of said locking tongue while the reentrant end of the tongue isbraced against the said partition.

5. In a wiring device, a housing comprising a base and a cover member, acontact supported in the housing, a

hat terminal bar connected to saidcontact and rigidly held Within thehousing, an adjacent wall o l 'rousing having la wire-receiving opening,an edge or which is in line with said bar, a resilient locking tongueseated 'in saidhousing and having a free end which extends over the edgeof said opening removed from said terminal bar, the opposite end of saidlocking tongue being formed at a freentrant angle with a movable ottsetarm having a termination which is held iixed within the yhouse with thereentrant end of the locking tongue in juxtaposition to a 'partitionextending from said last-mentioned wall, whereby a conductor wire may beinserted through said opening to 'compress the locking Vtongue and itsrelated offset arm Vinto wedged engagement between the terminal bar andthe 'end of said lockingtongue when the reentrant end of the tongue isbraced against the said partition.

6. In a wiring device, a housing comprising a 'base Amember and a covermember, a Contact supported in the base member, a hat terminal barconnected to said contact which extends atwise against one Vwall thereofwhereby the wall provides a rigid backing for such bar, an adjacent wallof said housing having a wire-receiving opening with an edge inalignment with said bar, a spring locking tongue adjacent to thelast-mentioned wall 'and in alignment with said opening, said tonguehaving a free end which projects over the edge of said openiny oppositesaid terminal bar, the opposite end of sai-d locking tongue vbeingformed at a reentrant angle with a movable offset arm, an anchoringstrip formed integrally on said odset arm and fixedly supported in saidhousing so as to hold thereentrant end of a locking tongue seated on thewall having the wire-receiving opening and bearing against a partitionextending from said last-mentioned wall, whereby a conductor wire may bepushed Ythrough said opening `and wedged between said terminal bar andthe locking tongue.

V7 A wiring device as recited in claim 6 wherein the said movable offsetarm terminates in an anchoring Ystrip that is seated in opposed groovesin the base of the housing and -held in place by the said cover member.

8.xIn a wiring device, a housing comprising a Vbase member anda covermember, walls in the housing which define a contact cavity and aterminal cavity, a Contact infthe 'contact cavity, a flat terminal barconnected to e an anchoring strip, Walls in said housing defining a pairi of opposed grooves in the terminal cavity for iixediy supporting theanchoring strip to 'hold the reentrant endet the 'locking tongue seatedon vthe, wall having the '-wirereceiving opening and bearing against apartition extendving from said last-mentioned wall, 1whereby a conductorwire'maybe inserted through said opening and wedged between saidterminal bar and the free'end of said lool;- ing tongue,rthe saidlocking tongue serving as a rigid fs'trut member'bearing against thesaid partition'when an attempt Vis made 'to pull the conductor wire theclamping action afforded by the locsi g tongue. y

9. A'vviring Adevice as recited lin claim 8 wherein the cover memberserves Atohold the anchoring strip tixedly 'secured in the said pair ofopposed grooves of the hous- 10. In fa 'duplex plug receptacle, ahousing compris- Aing Va base member and a fcover member, pairs of con-V-tac'tnztembers -in the housing, Va terminal bar connecting leachgpairand extending .across and in engagement with the inner'surface of aside wall ofthe Vhousing whereby such walls form a rigid backing for thefbars, one of said housing members `being provided with plug contactblade openings inline with said contact members, .and a wall of lthehousing being Aprovided with wire-receiving openings, edges or which arein alignment with said terminal bars, -a plurality of spring vlockingtongues in said housing and each having a free end overlying an edge ofone of said wire-receiving openings, the opposite end of each lockingtongue being formed at a Ieentrant angle with a movable offset armhaving a termination which is anchored in said housing to hold thereentrant .end of the locking tongue in juxtaposition to a partitionextending from said last-mentioned wall, whereby a conductor wire may beinserted through any one of said openings so that the terminal bar aswell as the Iconductor wire and the related locking tongue are allwedged 'between a side wall and the partition in the housing.

11. A duplex plug receptacle as is recited in claim i() wherein theterminal bars comprise edgewise positioned at strips having transverselyextending conductor wire-receiving grooves in line with said `conductorWirereceiving openings. y

12. yIn a wiring device comprising -a housing -having a cav-ity and aContact Amember therein, current-carrying means for connecting -aconductor wire to said Contact member comprising -a spring lockingytongue vhav-ing one end -rormed at a reentrant angle with 'a movableoiset arm terminating as an integral part of `said Contact member, saidtongue extending across the cavity with iits reentrant end seated on onewall of the cavity and bearing against an adjacent partition, While thefree end of the locking tongue is spaced from a cavity wall opposed tosaid partition, the -wall on which the locking tongue is seated beingVprovided with a conductor wire-receiving opening, one edge of which isin alignment with Ysaid opposed cavity wall, the opposite edge of saidopening being under the free end ofthe locking tongue, whereby aconductor wire inserted through said opening will be clamped between-said CPpOsed cavity wall and .the end of said locking tongue and saidlocking tongue acts as a rigid strut member wedged between the opposedcavity wall and the said partition.

13. A wiring device as recited in vclaim 12 wherein the portion of theopposed cavity wall which is in line with said conductor wire-receivingopening is in the form of a conductor wire-receiving groove.

'14, In an electric switch, a housing comprising a base member and `acover member, a pair o f Aspaced contact members at one end of thehousing, the terminal bar connected to each contact member, said housinghaving wall Vsurfaces against which the terminal bars rest which formrigid backings for them, a wall of the Vhousing being provided adjacentto each lterminal bar with a conductor wire-receiving opening, Yan edgeof which is in line with the terminal bar, a locking tongue associatedwith each terminal bar having a free end which stands over a conductorwire-receiving opening in opposed relation to a terminal bar and whichextends across a wall of the housing and in alignment with such opening,the opposite end of said Vlocking tongue being formed at a reentrantangle with a movable oiset arm having a termination which is held xedwithin the housing so to hold the reentrant end of the locking tongueseated on the wall Vhaving the wire-receiving opening and bearingagainst a vprojection extending from said last-mentioned wall, whereby aconductor wire vmay be inserted through each or" said openings tocompress the locking tongue and its related onset arm into wedgedvengagement between the terminal lbar 'and the end of said lockingtongue.

References Cited Yin the tile of this patent `UNITED STATES PATENTS

